If you’re a regular reader of our blog, you know we’re big fans of Aussie author Shirley Marr. Today happens to be Shirley’s birthday, and she’s celebrating with us on her official blog tour for her newest book Preloved!

Read our review from last week, download the pink sugared popcorn recipe card, and then join us for a little afternoon pool party. Like all good parties, it might just come with some special party favors for a few of our lucky guests…

Shirley Marr’s Vlog

And that’s right–it hardly seems fair, but our wonderful birthday girl is offering YOU a present! Along with 1 autographed copy of her new book, Shirley is offering one lucky winner a beautiful sterling silver locket necklace similar to the one that plays such an important role in the book.

Necklace specs: solid sterling silver locket with sterling silver chain, 18mm length. Vintage inspired, but new. Is not haunted, Does not contain a ghost inside. 80s ghost sold separately, you will need to get your own.

Shirley says: “Also, I’m going to write a secret message and tuck it inside. It could be anything. It could be the name of my next novel, it could be what it’s about. It could possibly be ANYTHING!”

To enter, simplyfill out the Rafflecopter form! Remember, you can earn extra entries by tweeting about the contest, sharing it on Facebook, pinning it on Pinterest, leaving a comment, etc.

Two Additional Prizes – Copies of Preloved

But wait, that’s not all! Thanks to our friends at Walker Australia, we also have two additional copies of Shirley’s book to give away. For your chance to win, we’re going to make you amuse us. ;) To enter, leave a comment on this post telling us one of two things: a favorite quote from an 80s movie OR a list of your specific favorite songs, fad, fashion, etc from that era.

The contest for all three prizes is open internationally, so enter now for your chance to win!

The Preloved Celebration Continues!

Tomorrow, Shirley is headed to The Tales Compendium to answer a stack of very fun questions. So if you’ve ever wondered what she’s secretly good at, what she sings in the shower (and let’s face it, who hasn’t) and the biggest lesson she ever learnt in school, follow her there.

Do be sure to check out Shirley’s website, blog, and GoodReads as well. She’s a great author to chat with, who writes funny, heartfelt reviews that you’re sure to enjoy. And remember, Preloved is available now at Fishpond.com with free shipping worldwide. A day after our review hit, we had a little scare because we heard the book was already sold out on that site! But it looks like it’s back in stock again, so if you’re interested, snap this one up while you can.

And last but not least, please join us in wishing Shirley a very happy birthday! And a big congratulations on Preloved‘s book birthday, too.

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OK, Wendy, you seriously get me hyperventilating with the awesome giveaways you host here regularly, and seriously, if I don’t win one of them I will be crying :P Just look at this! Birthday celebration (LOVE the video! Shirley is absolutely gorgeous and sooooo lovely!!!) – Happy Birthday Shirley!!! :D *throws confetti!* I’m extremely excited for Preloved.. I can’t even express how much I want this book. And the necklace is beautiful! :) What a fabulous, breathtaking giveaway!!! *swoon~!*

Umm…I am so bad with quotes, but there is one that I do remember from “Sixteen Candles”: when Jake calls her (OMG and I’m apparently bad with names, too–can’t remember Molly’s name!!!) and the grandma answers, and he says “Eat me!” (Umm. Or was it bite me?)

I was actually born in the late 80’s, so I like quite a bit about it! The movies, the music, the fashion, even!

Movie-wise I’d have to say my favs are: Flashdance, Footloose, and GREMLINS! heehee.I keep thinking about how you’re not supposed to get the Gremlins wet! They were such cuties otherwise though.

As for the music… Def a Madonna fan!U2, Bangles, Blondie, Bon Jovi – LIVING ON A PRAYER. Sigh. Bryan Adams’ ‘Heaven’, A-HA, David Bowie, Depeche Mode, The Cure. Yep, I can go on and ON about the music from back then.

Honestly, I don’t feel like I know much about the 80s, since the 90s was my childhood. I do know, though, that I enjoy laughing whenever I see pictures of the…colorful fashion and hair. heh Sorry, just can’t help myself! ;D As for movies, I really liked the movie Sixteen Candles. Can’t remember any quotes, but I know a lot of things cracked me up in that movie. It was great. :)

Regarding my favorite 80s movie quote, the first movie I thought of was Labyrinth, and it’s cheesy, but I like the end when she remembers the line she always had trouble remembering – “you have no power over me.” When I was a kid though, my favorite movie was totally the Lost Boys. My friends and I watched it at every slumber party we had, and we always rewound the part where Sam finds out Michael is becoming a vampire and he says, “My own brother, a blankety-blank shit sucking vampire. Wait til Mom finds out, buddy!” I find we just liked the cursing.

Alrighty…my favourite thing from the 80s…probably being born. But with the Back to the Future movies coming in a close second.

Also, dude. This book sounds awesome.

OH my god. I was just reading some of the other comments and…The Neverending Story! Forget being bad! Luck Dragons are the best thing ever! I used to pretend….I don’t know I can share it’s possibly the most nerdy thing about my childhood…but I used to sit under the dining room table and pretend I was the technician controlling Falkor.

You know, not someone from the fantastical story or anything, nono. Film crew. No wonder I ended up taking Technical Theatre in college.

I wasn’t born in the 80s but I do love it because Back to the Future, my favorite movie, came out during the 80s. I just adore Michael J. Fox. And because of this movie, I love high-waisted shorts! I’ve never watched The Princess Bride, but now I will check it out for sure. My mom loves to watch movies from the 80s but I can’t name any at the moment.

This is an extremely cheesy movie but I loved it as well: Valley Girl with Nicholas Cage. So many hilarious moments! Of course Empire Strikes Back was one of my all-time favorites back then. I love the mention of Blade Runner! Fab!

AMBER. I love that you brought up the MJ LA Gear sneaks! I totally forgot about those. And Jem, of course Jem! I was telling Flann that I wasn’t sure the “totally outrageous” part of the title was obvious, but I’m glad to know at least one person probably recognized what I was going for, hah.

I’m not familiar with the stuff of the 80’s, being of the ‘younger generation’ (not that I’m really into the current trends and stuff anyways). But I’m hoping reading Preloved would give me a better idea of the 80’s. :D

Rockin’ post! And that cake is making my teeth ache! Like Reynje, I’m not eligible but I still want to participate. This is a quote from Dead Poets Society, which I’m sure you’ve all read in some Quotes website:

“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”

Trust you to come up the quote that “hits me in the heart,” as you would say, K. :) LOVE. Dead Poets Society was such a fundamental film of that era–amazing stuff. Now I have the urge to watch it again soon!

Happy birthday Shirley! Wish I could pick up this book and wish that my local library could pick up this book as well! It sounds so great, especially with the involvement of an Asian mother and superstitions (which was what I grew up with).

80s…hmm…The band I loved from the 80s? Bon Jovi! Or The Police!

I was born in the late 80s though, so unfortunately can’t remember most of the fads.

Aww, Shirley sounds so lovely! Happy birthday!!! I hope it’s sweet. The story about seeing her grandfather’s ghost is really interesting, a bit eery!

OK NOW FOR THE SUPER LONG PORTION OF THE COMMENT! Oh my gosh, this question is totally up to my speed and I don’t know what to pick!!! My first instinct for quotes was anything from Heathers. I love “Chaos was what killed the dinosaurs, darling” and “Dear Diary, my teen-angst bullshit now has a body count.”

and uhhh holy eff, I love 80s music esp since I am a huge huge fan of cheesy synth pop and the 80s had that in SPADES. A LIST!

The Clash – Should I Stay or Should I Go Orange Juice – Rip It Up (probably one of my favourite songs, everything about this! sax solo!) Soft Cell – Tainted Love Dead or Alive – You Spin Me Around (dear god this song is so effing catchy, I have a playlist with this & the song below and play it on repeat for hours) The Human League – Don’t You Want Me (don’t don’t you want me! love the music video too, so weird!) Blondie – Heart of Glass (oh my gosh, I get SO EXCITED every time I hear this song, perfect pop) A Flock of Seagulls – I Ran (this was also on the playlist that I put repeat on for hours. the video for it is so dumb, I LOVE IT) Violent Femmes – Blister In the Sun (great opening notes!!) Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – If You Leave, Enola Gay (thank you Pretty in Pink for the former!) New Order – Bizarre Love Triangle (I have a lot of feelings for their music/Joy Division) Talking Heads – This Must Be the Place (ahhh so good!! another one of my favourites. “a real honest kind of love song”)

OTHERS: Michael Jackson, duh. Thriller is a classic for a reason. Billie Jean has such a sick beat. Come on Eileen. Fight For Your Right. Run DMC. Ahh sorry I got so carried away, I know you said a short list! I got so excited! BASICALLY IF IT IS NEW WAVE OR AN 80S JAM, I AM INTO IT.

Ferris Bueller is such a classic–somehow it just never gets old. :) We love Shirley, too! And it’s a shame her books are so hard to get, but it’s fortunate that Fishpond seems to be keeping them in stock these days.

LOVE the tour stop (actually, really enjoying all of Shirley’s! Loving the photos). THank yoooou! And, umm… my fave 80’s quote… err… oh, I know! YES! “As you wish.” From the Princess Bride. SO glad it ended up being an eighties film (I had to check ;D)

Happy Birthday to the lovely Ms. Shirley. I am stalking her tour and it has been so fun. Loved her post yesterday. Anyway being a teenager in the late 80’s there are so many iconic things about that decade. For me one of my absolute favorite 80’s movies is Stand By Me…I had fun chatting with Flannery on this one a couple of weeks ago…so many great lines from the movie that won’t make sense unless you see it, but one of them is “Did Lard Ass have to pay to get into the pie eating contest?” or “Seven cents, Vern.” or “I brought the comb.” Another great 80’s movie is Princess Bride with the famous, “As you Wish” “Inconceivable” and “Have Fun Storming the Castle.” Hmm as far as 80’s song..stuff, Carebears, Strawberry Shortcake and My Little Pony. How about Jelly shoes and jelly bracelets, friendship bracelets, Baggy sweatshirts, aqua net and listening to the radio all day so you could tape your favorite song and hope that the stupid DJ didn’t talk during it! Thanks for the giveaway. Congrats Shirely on your release :)

At the risk of making myself look VERY dorky…I used to pretty well say every line of Labyrinth along with the actors. My favorite parts were when the worm says to Sarah, “‘Ello.” Sarah; “Did you just say ‘hello’?” Worm: “No, I said ‘Ello, but that’s close enough.” And then, of course, “Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child that you have stolen from me. For my will is as strong as yours and my kingdom is as great…you have no power over me!” OR “You remind me of the babe. What babe? The babe with the power. What Power? The power of Voodoo. Who do? You do. Do what? Remind me of the babe!”

As for fads, I submit the plastic chain with the clip-on plastic charms with bells, the unabashedly high hair (punked with gell or teased with hairspray, it was all good), and unabashedly creepy cartoons (Smurfs, Carebears, Masters of the Universe, Transformers, the originals were all weird.)

LOVE 80s cartoons, including all the ones you mentioned. I was so excited when they started releasing them on DVD! Remember Gummi Bears? Sometimes I hum “bouncing here and there and everywhere…” for no reason.

Give me the child. Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City to take back the child that you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom is as great… YOU HAVE NO POWER OVER ME!

I am a Labyrinth fangirl =)

Happy Birthday Shirley!

And thanks for the awesome interview and the chance to win Preloved!! (Fingers crossed. I am entering every contest to try and win this book. I WANTZ IT!)

This is an awesome giveaway!! I don’t know if I can think of any specific movie quotes, by Labyrinth and The Princess Bride are like my favorite movies!! I will make a list of things that I loved though

Legwarmers!!Sweatshirts with the cut neck80’s music!! All of it!! Side ponytailsSnap bracelets and rubber bracelets

Awww, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, (super sweet and utterly baking-tastic) SHIRLEY!! <3 If that's you in those pictures, you have to know that you're SO pretty and you've made me a million times hungrier all over again! Maybe you could write a recipe book as your next hit? Haha that's probably just my stomach speaking! x)

But it’s so amazing how Preloved sold out on the sight after the hit on Wendy’s blog, although I really don’t know why I would be surprised ;) Thanks so much for celebrating your birthday and book birthday here at TMG with us — I hope you have a FANTASTIC day! :) <3

What a lovely post.I love the pool party.She’s making me crave tea by the pool.Great post.(not an entry)BTW LOVE your blog friends are real friends button and that you too have grabbed Missie’s League of Ladies Against Captcha! :D

I am a 90’s kid but I have always loved the movie Labyrinth and its quirky quotes that make me smile everytime. If I had to choose one it would be these two since I quote them a lot in normal conversations (Yeah I get a lot of weird looks from doing this):

Jareth: You remind me of the babe. Goblin: What babe? Jareth: The babe with the power. Goblin: What power? Jareth: The power of voodoo. Goblin: Who do? Jareth: You do. Goblin: Do what? Jareth: Remind me of the babe.

Happy birthday, Shirley! It’s so nice of you to host a giveaway when it’s your birthday and you should be the one receiving something! Anyway, you’re looking gorgeous as always :) Have fun on your birthday!! You have those only once a year, after all!

I love Back to the Future, Dirty Dancing, When Harry Met Sally and Deads Poets Society.

Oh, my fav quote is fom When Harry met Sally:

“I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you’re looking at me like I’m nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night.” :)

Awwww HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHIRLEY<3 (haha, I love how we share the same name! It's the land of SHIRLEYS)

Ummm…I wasn’t born during the 80’s, and frankly, I don’t know much about that era. BUT I’m studying Blade Runner for school right now, and it happens to be an 80s movie soo… “I don’t know why he saved my life. Maybe in those last moments he loved life more than he ever had before. Not just his life – anybody’s life; my life.”

Oh my, I’m a 90’s kid. Haha! But I do know and like some few 80’s song – With Or Without You by U2, Time After Time Cyndi Lauper, Sweet Child ‘O Mine by Guns ‘N Roses. I’ve seen the movie E.T. too and Ghostbusters. I don’t remember any quotes though.

Happy Birthday, Shirley and awesome post and giveaway, Wendy!!

P.S. I actually did a little research on those songs and movies just to be sure they’re from 80’s. Haha! XD

‘Dear Mr. Vernon, we accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. What we did *was* wrong. But we think you’re crazy to make an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us… In the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain…

My favourite band from that era would be Air Supply. The first song I heard from them was Every Woman In The World in my relatives’ car. I actually have heard their songs before, but I knew their band name started from that time. So, this is my favourite band from that era. :-D

I’m totally obsessed with several musicals written in the 80s. I love Cats (1982) (I was in a production of it once), Les Miserables (1985) (I was in that twice), and Phantom of the Opera (1988) (which I haven’t been in… yet). I know all the words to all the songs by heart.

Fab post Shirley and happy birthday! The end of the 80’s was a memorable time for me as thats when New Kids of the block came out with their song You got it (“the right stuff”) and it makes me all nostalgic that they’re doing a tour now with another fave band of mine the backstreet boys omg I sound so cheesy! Anyway thanks for the great giveaway Wendy, I may go off and listen to some songs by NKOTB! :)

I haven’t seen Blue Bloods yet, Rachel, but Donnie Wahlberg was on a short-lived show awhile back called BOOMTOWN which I LOVED. It was actually set in L.A., and was a show which showed different POVs of cops, lawyers, etc. involved in a specific mystery for each episode. It was really moody and kind of sad, I was really disappointed when it was cancelled. So much so I have the show on DVD.

Okay, Maggie–I love all three of those fads you mentioned AND I love the Cosbys, too. I always loved the ones when Vanessa got in trouble, especially when she and her friends went to that concert without permission. Good times!

I’m pretty sure this is THE cutest thing I’ve ever seen on a blog. I’m so glad to see Shirley talking about her book in real life. (and with hot pink nails!) I’m quite jealous of her being in/near a pool though. *looks out at rain, as usual* And she answered several questions I had about the book. Just wonderful, all around. Thanks to both of you:)